Electrically-illuminated door-knob mechanism.



No. 893,214. PATENTED JULY14, 1908. H. G. WILLIAMS & J. A. SPIKER. ELEGTRIGALLY ILLUMINATED DOOR KNOB MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. H. G. WILLIAMS & J. A. SPIKER. ELEOTRIOALLY ILLUMINATED DOOR KNOB MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

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No. 893,214. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908; H. G. WILLIAMS & J. A. SPIKER.

ELECTRIQALLY ILLUMINATED DOOR KNOB MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 4, 1006.

3 SHEETS-8HEET 3.

LIAMS and JOHN ALBERT SPIKER, citizens of a sgecification. 10

un -ran PArEn r OFFICE.

HENR GORDON WILLIAMS AND JOHN ALBERT SPIKER, or S T LAKE CITY,. UTAH-.

ELno'rRioALLY-mLUMINA'rEn DOOR-KNOB MECHANISM.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 4, 1906. Serial No. 294,540.

Patented July 14, 1908'.

To all whom it may concern:

Bait known that we, HENRY GORDON'WIL- the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Uta rovementsin Electrically-Illuminatdd Doornob Mechanism, of.whi c h the following is ur invention relates primarily to the lllumination of the knob or operating device of a door, and has for its object the provision of mechanism and devices by means of which the knob itsekf incloses an electric lam and suitable means are providedfor' the circuit connections from the lamp to a's'ource of electricity. P

.The improvements are designed particularly for application to front "doors to enable a person approaching the door" at night ,to place his hand readily upon the knob, but it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention belongs that in-certain aspects 'the invention or certain features thereof are capable of other applications. Also, that while weshall describe an embodiment as illustrative of the invention, we do not wish to be limited to the precise form shown and de cribed as the invention med out in other ways;

may be car In carrying our invention into efiect we provide the operating knob connected to the atch of a door witha translucent portion,

and place an electric lam preferably mounted .in fixed relation to t e. door, withinthe knob itself. Circuit wires lead from the lamp thus mounted to suitable contacts at v the ed' e'of the door, which contacts are adapte to engage cooperating contacts on the door-frame.

through an electric switch to a. suitable source of electricity, and are so constructed as toopen the lamp circuit before the disengage-.

' dead. This switch is preferably 'of' the snap on quick-break type, to reduce the arcing to a. minimum.

The inventlon consi These 'latter contacts are preferably in the form of plungers connected ts in'thevarious novel features of construction and combination of parts above outlined, and to be hereinafter -nected to inner memb reflectingb exte'n i suitably connected to the latchas by p n 12 and stud b; Each member B and :B ma 5 lap gure 1 is-an edge view inelevation of the lock and latch portion of a door, with a side I i view in section of the door-frame,- showing have invented certam new and useful Imconstructlon and lamp socket mounting, .Fig. 5 is a view in erspective of the switch 4 are enthe door closed casing with the 's wltchjparts and cover removed; Figs.- 6, 7, 8, and 9- are the-switch arts unassembled; 10 is detail; Fig. 11

ated switch located isja horizontal section s owing the door-operat thehinge side of the door instead of the lock side, as Figs. 1 and i 2; and Fi 12 is a detail of a switch plunger .shownin ig.11.

Referring to thedrawin s, A represents a door, provided with a 100 and latch 1nd1- cated' conventionally means foroperating the lock are indicated at a. The latch is provided with an operatlng 'at-a'. The key-hole and knob B, composed preferably of two separable members B andB. The outer member B is' referably composed of .glass or.

other trans ucent material, or itmay simply 7 contain a translucent portion, and 18 con-- er B by'a flange or ring I) which is screw threaded to enga e threads upon member B where it may e clamped by any suitable means such as set screws 6. Inner member B has a cupshaped portion which may have inside surface at b ng through the; face-plate a and provided "with ventilating openings, as Openings b also permit a portlon of the light from the lamp to ass, or be deflected, rearwardly toward the oor. 7

Within the knob B is located an electric lamp C carried by a socket c whlch is shown as' of the Edison type butmay be of the T. H. or'any other typeorconstruction. This socket c is mounted inlfixed relation to the door, as more clearly shown in- Fig. 4, and does not turn with the knob. This mounting consists of an arm secured to the door beapolished or and ashank l neath the face-plate and extending through a I a p i .source of power 9 slot or cut-away portion 6 of shank b as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and consists of a contact strip 6 attached to or engaging the outer contact of the socket c and having a bindin screw b". A second strip 6 is insulater l from stri b and also from the door and connects wit the central terminal of the socket. Strip 6 has a binding screw 1). It will thus be seen that when the knob is turned the lamp remains stationary, and has immovable connection through the strips and binding screws.

Binding screws 6 and b are connected by conductors 1 and 2 with contacts 3 and 4,

which are mounted in suitable insulation at the ed e of the. door, preferably just below the 100 and latch.

' Mounted in the door frame are cooperating contacts 5 and 6'adapted to make connection with the electric lighting mains 7 and 8 and preferably through a snap switch which will now be described. Aswitch casing or box E preferably of porcelain or other fireproof insulating material is formed as shown in Fig. 5 with end seats 6 each having a central notch e. The principal parts of the switch are mounted upon a frame F of metal bent in U-form and secured in central notches e of end seats 6 by screws f. a This frame F is provided witha lug f 2 to which is pivoted the switch arm f Switch arm f is preferably a U-shaped piece pivoted at 4 and carrying a contact portion f 5 and two u s f 6 f 7 notched or perforated in alinementat 8 The contact ortion f has a blade f to engage a fixed ouble contact f and a bridgepiece f insulated from contact portion f 5 at f. This bridge-piecef is adapted to en-.

gage and connect two s ring contact blades f 14 and f. Contact bla e f is part of astr1p formed as shown in Fig. 6, is secured to/bottom of'casing E by screw f and provided with a standardf carryin on terminal binding screw f of the switc f is mounted on the bottom of casing E by screw f and has a spring extension arm f which makes electrical connection with a U -spring f mounted upon but insulated from the frame F. U -sprin f is compressed and bears upon a shoul er of plunger f, which carries contact 5, the lower end of plunger f 22 being secured by a nut in a recess f in frame F (see Figs. 1 and 8), this nut contacting with the insulation. Contact 6 is carried by a plun er f which extends through perforations f and f of lugs f and f upon switch arm f 3 and is limited in its outward motion by nut f Plunger f 4 is pressed outwardly by U-spring f 26 which rests on frame F and bears against a nut f. Both nuts f and f are adjustable to vary the play of plunger f 24 in accordance with the distance of the door from the frame. A coiled spring f surrounds plunger f and bears against lug f 0 at one end and a pin f Contact blade in the plungerjust above lug f, or it may extend throu h lug f 7 and bear on nut f. A facelate 5 is attached by screws and in sulated rackets g to frame F, and is provided with insulation around each of contacts 5 and 6, as shown. One circuit wire 7 enters casing E through a notch in the end, and is secured to bindin screw f in electrical connection-with dou le blade f The other circuit wire 8 enters casing E throu h a notch in the side, and is attached to bin ing screw f 10 is a cut-out switch to open the circuit when the light is not desired. In Fig. 1 we have shown contacts 5 and 6 as small wheels or rollers, for en agement with contacts 3 and 4 on the loc ed e of the door. When, however, it is desire to place the switch near the'hinge edge of the door, as shown in Fig. 11, these contacts will be plain plungers 5 6.

The operation of the mechanism will now be briefly described: When the door is closed contacts 5 and 6 will be engaged by contacts 3 and 4, and both' lungers f 22 and f will be pushed in against't e action of springs f and f plunger f by pressure on lug f depressing arm f 3 and closing the switch. Blade f is then in en agement with springs f and bridge-piece i connectssprings j 14 and f Current will then flow from source of current 9 through main 7, binding screw f springs f switch blade f lungerf to contact 6, door contact 4, con uctor 2 to the lamp C. Thence returning by conductor 1 to door c011- tact 3, contact 5, insulated plunger f, spring f, arm 8, contact spring f bridge-piece f contact spring 1, binding screw f main 8 and return to source of ower through switch 10. The lamp Will t erefore be lighted. Upon opening the door, just before door contact 4 leaves contact 6, the outward movement of plunger f under the force of sprin f has been compressing coiled sprin f, caring against lug. f when the force 0 coiled overcomes the friction of the switch blade with its contacts and o ens the switch with a snap. When contact 4 eaves-contact 6, therefore, there is no sparking, and contacts 5 and 6 are dead. If desired, the parts may be so proportioned that nut f engages lu at the proper time to start the switch b ade, when coiled springf will complete the motion.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a door provided with a latch, a movable knob for operating saidlatch and provided with a translucent spring portion, an electric lamp within said knob mounted in fixed relation to the door and independent of the movement of said knob, and electrical connections for said lamp.

2. The combination with a door provided with a latch, a movable knob for operating said latch capable of an oscillatory motion and provided with a translucent portion and a shank, an electric lamp within said knob having a socket extending into said shank and mounted in fixed relation to the door and independent of the movement of said knob, and electrical connections for said lamp.

3. The combination with a door provided with a latch, a knob for operating said latch. and provided with a trans ucent portion and a shank, said shank having a cut-away portion, a lam socket support'fixedly mounted and eXten ing through said cut-away portion into said shank, an electric lamp socket mounted upon said support Within said shank and an electric lamp5within said operating knob attached to said socket.

'* 4. The combination with a door provided with a latch, an operating knob for said latch comprising an inner socket member having a shank connected with said latch and a separable outer member having a translucent portion, and an electric lamp inclosed by said members 5. An operating knob for a door latch comprising an inner socket member having a shank for connection with the door latch and a separable outer member having a translucent portion, and an electric lamp inclosed by said members.

6. The combination with adoor frame and a door cooperating therewith, of an electric lamp mounted on and carried by said door, cooprer'ating contacts upon said door and door ame arranged to complete thecircuit from said lamp to a source of current,

and means for rendering the contacts upon said door frame dead when said cooperating contacts are separated. v

,7. The combination with a door frame and a movable element or door cooperating therewith, of an electric ,lampmounted'on and carried by said movable element, co

- operating contacts upon said movable elethe circuit from said lamp to a source of electric current, and switch mechanism con.-

. trolled by the movement of at least one of said 006 crating contacts to open the lamp circuit efore the separation of said contacts. v v

8. The combination with a door frame and a movable, element or door cooperating therewith, .of an electric lampassociated tion of said contacts.

- said lamp to a sourceo with said movable element, cooperating contacts upon said movable element anddoor frame arranged to 'co'm lete the circuit from electric current, and snap-switch mechanism controlled by said cooperating contacts to 0 en the lamp circult with a quick motion 9. The combination with a movable element and a fixed element, of an electric lamp carried by said movable element, contacts efore the separa-' tral y 0 upon said movable element in circuit with l knob.

said lamp, a plunger contact mounted upon said fixed element for engagement with one of said contacts, and a snap switch operated by said plunger to open the circuit before the separation 0 said plunger and movable element contact.

10. The combination with a movable element and a fixed element, of an electric lamp carried by said movable element, a contact u on said movable element throu h which t e circuit of said lamp is com lete a pluner contact mounted upon saidhixed element or engagement with said contact, a switch arm cooperating with said plunger, a spring for forcing said plunger towards said movable element contact, and a spring of less tension connecting said plunger with said switch arm. v

11. The-combination with amovable ele ment and a fixedelement of an electric lamp carried by said movable element, a contact up on said movable element throu h which the clrcuit of said lamp is complete a plunger, contact mounted upon said fixed element for engagement with said contact, aswitch having a contact arm cooperating'with said plunger and fixed contact, a s

ring for forclng said plunger towards sai movable element contact, and a spring connecting said plunger and contact arm arranged to be compressed by the initial movement of the'first mentioned sprin and their to move said contact arm from said fixed contact'with a quick motion. v

12. The combination with a movable element and a fixed element, of an electric lamp carried by said movable element, a contact upon said movable element throu h which the circuit of said lamp is complete a plunger contact mounted upon said fixed element for engagement with said contact, and a switch comprising a fixed contact and a two-part arm which cooperates with said plunger, a spring for forcing said plunger towards said movable element contact, and a spring of less tension between the parts of said arm connecting said plunger and arm.

13. 'A door knob,.comprising a supporting V stud, a hollow globular knob capable of transmitting light terminating at its rear side in a hollow neck fitting said stud, .lamp- -minating at its rear side in a hollow neck fitting said stud, lamp-supporting means carried removably in said stud, and a lamp detachably secured to the outer end of said lam su porting means'and projecting censaid hollow neck into said globular 15. A hollow door knob, and an electric names to this specification the presence of lamp mounted therein, said door knob comtwo subscribing witnesses.

prlsing translucent material for the external HENRY GORDON WILLIAMS; transmission of the light from said internal JOHN ALBERT SPIKER 5 lamp, including means for deflecting a por- Witnesses:

tion of said light rearwardly toward the door. IRA H. LEwIs,

In testimony whereof we have signed our WM. F. CoLToN. 

